Chapter 37: A Wife This Good Should Not Be Mistreated

Military Doctor Pei withdrew his gaze and spoke with a serious expression.

“From my initial assessment, this is acute gastroenteritis, which has also triggered a fever and other symptoms. Normally, a fever wouldn’t get this severe, but your child’s temperature has already reached thirty-nine degrees. This is very serious. Fortunately, you brought him in just in time—otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

In this era, many children had suffered irreversible damage from high fevers. Some were simply neglected when they fell ill, and due to poor medical conditions, they ended up with permanent brain damage.

Jiang Rou was startled by the doctor’s words.

Fever?

When she had woken up in the middle of the night and seen Zhou Xiaochuan, she had only noticed his vomiting and diarrhea. She hadn’t realized he had a fever.

He had been burning up at thirty-nine degrees—yet during the day, he hadn’t shown a single sign of discomfort.

How long had he been enduring this pain?

A wave of indescribable sorrow surged in Jiang Rou’s heart.

At the same time, an unsettling suspicion nagged at her.

She was certain that this had something to do with Xu Chunxiang.

“Doctor Pei, is there a possibility… that this is food poisoning?”

Upon hearing this, Military Doctor Pei immediately frowned, deep in thought.

He responded: “Some symptoms of food poisoning are very similar to acute gastroenteritis. To distinguish between the two, we would need to analyze the patient’s vomit. However, given the conditions here at the Military Camp, we are unable to conduct such tests.”

“I understand now. Thank you, Military Doctor Pei. You’ve worked hard.”

Jiang Rou sincerely nodded and expressed her gratitude.

After checking the IV drip one last time, Military Doctor Pei walked to the adjacent office. He planned to check in again every hour.

Just as he stepped out of the door, the sentinel who had helped carry Jiang Rou’s child earlier asked worriedly,

“Sister-in-law, the child’s condition is so serious. Should we send someone to notify Regiment Commander Zhou?”

“No need. Zhou Chongshan is a soldier. His duty comes first. He has his own responsibilities, so let him focus on them. I can take care of the child.”

Jiang Rou’s expression remained calm and resolute as she spoke.

Her words surprised the sentinel and even made Military Doctor Pei slow his steps slightly before leaving.

In their hearts, their respect for Jiang Rou grew even deeper.

A military wife with such a strong spirit was truly rare.

…

In the latter half of the night, Zhou Xiaochuan lay in bed with an IV drip attached.

Jiang Rou stayed by his bedside, carefully tending to him.

Due to the severe fever, Zhou Xiaochuan’s lips were badly chapped. Jiang Rou poured a cup of warm water and used a cotton swab to moisten his lips from time to time.

She then entered the System Space, navigating to the “Tao Duoduo Mall.” and used the last bit of her remaining money to purchase a children’s cooling patch.

A small, blue gel strip was placed on Zhou Xiaochuan’s forehead.

To keep it hidden, Jiang Rou covered the cooling patch with a towel.

Zhou Xiaochuan, whether from physical discomfort or a nightmare, kept murmuring in his sleep, his body occasionally shivering.

Jiang Rou held his hand tightly, accompanying and comforting him.

After staying up all night, as the sky began to brighten—

The howling storm, just as Zhou Chongshan had predicted, stopped as soon as dawn arrived.

But Jiang Rou could hold on no longer.

Still wearing her damp clothes, she slumped over the bedside and drifted into a hazy sleep.

A few hours later—

Zhou Chongshan, who had just returned from the coastal defense line, finally learned that Zhou Xiaochuan had fallen ill in the middle of the night.

Having stayed up all night without rest, the man’s expression immediately darkened with concern.

He rushed toward the infirmary.

“Regiment Commander Zhou, wait for me…”

Song Yan, who was following closely behind Zhou Chongshan, could barely keep up with his pace.

The two hurried forward and finally arrived at the infirmary.

Zhou Chongshan pushed the door open.

The sharp scent of disinfectant filled the air, and the sight before him was astonishing.

His deep black pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

Inside the infirmary, the post-rain sunlight streamed into the small, white-walled bedroom.

Zhou Xiaochuan lay on the hospital bed, a towel resting on his forehead and an IV drip inserted into his hand. After a full night of rest, his delicate little face was no longer deathly pale.  

On the other side—  

Jiang Rou was wearing Zhou Chongshan’s military uniform. The man’s oversized jacket hung loosely on her slender frame, looking baggy and ill-fitted.  

One of her hands tightly held Zhou Xiaochuan’s, while the other rested beneath her cheek.  

With her head tilted to the side, her delicate features were fully visible.  

Her skin was so pale that the dark circles under her eyes stood out starkly, along with the deep exhaustion on her face.  

For Jiang Rou, this stormy night had been an unprecedented challenge and torment.  

She was such a frail young girl—no one knew how she had managed to endure it.  

A tightness gripped Zhou Chongshan’s chest.  

Just as he was about to step into the hospital room, Military Doctor Pei appeared and gave him a look.  

Pei motioned for him to talk outside.  

Zhou Chongshan hesitated for a moment, then quietly closed the door.  

—  

Outside the room.  

Military Doctor Pei briefly explained Zhou Xiaochuan’s condition to Zhou Chongshan.  

“…The child was on an IV drip all night. His fever has subsided, and there are no other complications. His condition is stable now.”  

At this point, Pei’s gaze turned sharp.  

“But your child is suffering from long-term malnutrition. Zhou Chongshan, you’re a regiment commander, a man of rank—how is it that your own child isn’t even getting enough to eat? He looks just like a famine victim.”  

Zhou Chongshan was stunned.  

In the military unit, he was an outstanding regiment commander, possessing remarkable military talent.

But when it came to daily life, he was utterly careless.  

He had thought that hiring a tutor to accompany Zhou Xiaochuan and Zhou Xiaohua and providing them with money and grain tickets every month would be enough to ensure they were well cared for.  

Occasionally, he would ask Zhou Xiaochuan a few questions, but the boy had never once complained.  

Because of this, Zhou Chongshan had assumed the children were living well.  

Who could have imagined…  

That a six-year-old child would be suffering from long-term malnutrition?  

Zhou Chongshan’s brows furrowed tightly.  

Military Doctor Pei and Zhou Chongshan had served in the same military unit and had known each other for nearly ten years.  

Being much older, Pei had always regarded Zhou Chongshan as a junior.  

Seeing a younger man neglect his own children so severely, Pei had originally planned to reprimand him. But after noticing Zhou Chongshan’s expression, he more or less understood the situation.  

He swallowed the scolding that had been on the tip of his tongue and instead said,  

“Chongshan, military duties are important, but so are matters at home. You’re a lucky man—you’ve got yourself a good wife. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s also willing to take care of your children like her own. You should’ve seen the look on her face last night when she carried the child here—so full of worry, just like a real mother.”  

Thinking back on it, Pei still felt deeply moved.  

He reminded Zhou Chongshan: “A woman like that—you better not let her down.”  

“I won’t.” Zhou Chongshan took a deep breath and gave a firm nod, his gaze unwavering.